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12 WordPress Live Chat Plugins to Connect With Users

wordpress website
October 14, 2020/by
12 WordPress Live Chat Plugins to Connect With Users Let’s be honest. No one wants to send a support email only to receive a (possibly automated) response 48-hours later. Similarly, no one wants to be put on hold for 30+ minutes while being told they’re the next caller in line. We live in a world of instant gratification. Your customers are busy and they want to speak to you on their terms and get the help they need on their time. Live chat allows for you to provide immediate, personalized, and efficient support for your customers and prospects. So, if you're part of the 37% of internet users with a WordPress website and you need live chat functionality, this guide is here to help. We'll cover 12 WordPress live chat plugins to engage visitors and offer effective and speedy support. 1. HubSpot WordPress Plugin With HubSpot's WordPress plugin, you get more than just live chat — you also get forms and pop-ups, CRM and contact management, email marketing, marketing automation, and reports and analytics. Plus HubSpot integrates with over 500 other tools. In addition to the capabilities just mentioned, the plugin also allows you to add chatbots that function 24/7 to your site. This way, you can automate some of your support (e.g. use chatbots, rather than reps, to answer FAQs) and offer assistance to visitors when your team is offline (a.k.a. when reps are asleep). HubSpot's WordPress plugin is simple to install and applies to...
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13 Examples of Facebook Ads That Actually Work (And Why)

Advertising Examples
October 13, 2020/by
13 Examples of Facebook Ads That Actually Work (And Why) On average, Facebook is home to 3 billion users -- from CEOs to students to consumers. And while the community is clearly there, connecting with them from a marketing standpoint isn't always easy. For brands, posting on Facebook alone isn't enough anymore -- especially for ones just starting out. Sure, you can throw money at your efforts to drive people to your Facebook Page and send them to your website, but that only works if you're smart about it. One way to do just that is to create optimized Facebook Ads targeted at the right audience. Optimized ads can help you spend your PPC budget wisely and see a positive return on your investment. So, what does optimized Facebook advertising actually look like? If you're looking for best practices for a successful ad along with examples for inspiration, you're in the right place. Components of Successful Facebook Ads 1. It has a clear objective. Facebook advertising is an excellent tactic to use in your marketing strategy, but it isn't as simple as paying Facebook and expecting customers and revenue in return. Instead, you must craft a clear ad strategy, knowing exactly how each ad functions in support of your marketing goals.  By doing this, you'll be better able to measure success by tracking the metrics that matter, and you'll even be able to craft better ads by choosing the most effective Facebook ads setup, including which Facebook ads objective to use. 2....
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17 of the Most Creative ‘Meet the Team’ Pages We’ve Ever Seen

Website Design
October 13, 2020/by
17 of the Most Creative 'Meet the Team' Pages We've Ever Seen To a prospect seeking out a new service provider, it can all be a little overwhelming. It's easy to wonder: Who are the real people behind all the smoke and mirrors? Adding a "Meet the Team" page or section to your website is an easy, effective way to give your business a accessible face. It gives prospects an idea of who exactly they'll be working with, and shows potential employees that you're proud of the people on your team. For some inspiration, see how these companies introduce visitors to their most important creative assets: their people. 1. Yokel Local Yokel Local is a Platinum HubSpot Agency Partner who positions themselves as an extension of their clients' marketing teams. For that reason, they showcase the people on their staff to highlight the humans behind the brand. What's pleasing about this particular 'meet the team' page is the matching blue backgrounds and cool palette. The grid design provides a modern feel, and if you click on one of the faces, a box will open with more information about the team member, including their bio, credentials, and social profiles. 2. Digital Marmelade Since most employee bios read a lot like a list of stats ("10 years in the industry ... 4 years at the company ... Managed 80 website redesign projects ... ") the folks at Digital Marmelade decided to have a little fun with the format. Each employee at the...
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How to Increase Your Instagram Engagement Rate

Instagram Marketing
October 10, 2020/by
How to Increase Your Instagram Engagement Rate Instagram turns 10 in 2020. It was launched in October of 2010, where its app store debut prompted 25,000 downloads in just one day. Two years later, Facebook purchased the app for $1 billion. In 2020, the app has grown larger than expected, with 500 million daily users. Its popularity has led it to become a source of income for content creators and brands worldwide, many using the app as their sole source of income. Since the potential to make money, connect with your audience, and build a reputable brand on Instagram is so high, understanding how to use it is essential. While there are various ways to market yourself or your business on Instagram, it’s impossible to do so without first understanding your Instagram engagement rate. Why does Instagram engagement rate matter? Instagram engagement rates are significant because they measure an audience’s interest, brand relevance, and social authority. Audience Interest If your content appeals to your target audience, your engagement rate will be higher. If you take the time to review your best performing content, i.e., posts with the most likes, shares, saves, and comments, you’ll get a feel for what your users want to see. It’s important to note high impressions may indicate that your content has been viewed a lot, but engagement is typically defined as concrete interactions with your posts. Relevance If you have a high engagement rate, it’s likely your audience sees you as...
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What is Real-Time Marketing? (In 300 Words or Less)

Marketing Campaigns
October 9, 2020/by
What is Real-Time Marketing? (In 300 Words or Less) While it might seem like people use delayed media (like streaming services or podcasts) more often, real-time media hasn't come to a halt. Real-time marketing is still a great way to get in front of and convert your audience. In fact, a new report from Monetate and Econsultancy concludes that UK marketers report a 26% increase in conversion rates from real-time marketing. Additionally, a study found real-time marketing not only positively impacts standard marketing goals -- word-of-mouth, attention, preference, likelihood to try or buy -- but it also turbocharges other marketing initiatives, including paid and owned media effectiveness. As marketers, those stats are impossible to ignore. Below, let's learn more about real-time marketing, and then we'll see what it looks like in action. This type of marketing occurs when your company reacts, instead of planning or strategizing a marketing plan for months. That's not to say that you won't have a real-time marketing plan, but it'll be a quicker turnaround. The objective? To connect with your audience and communicate your brand position. You might be able to plan real-time marketing if there's an event or ongoing trend. For example, if you strategize an ad around a current fad, your company might become more appealing to your audience because you understand them. Real-time marketing helps you provide relevant messaging that is tailored to your audience's wants, interests, and needs. One way for marketers to implement a real-time marketing strategy is...
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What You Need to Know About Commercial Use

Content Marketing Strategy
October 9, 2020/by
What You Need to Know About Commercial Use As marketers, we're often tasked with designing, producing, and creating a variety of content to use across social channels, blog posts, and email. This often includes the use of a wide variety of design tools — including Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and even Getty Images. And yet, we often don't pause to consider: Can I actually use this software for business purposes? More than likely, your team has already ensured you have a commercial license to use the products you design for business purposes. But, despite it being a legal term, it's still critical your familiar with the concept of "commercial use" as a marketer, so you can ensure you're following the law when it comes to creating and distributing content. Here, let's dive into the differences between commercial use and non-commercial use. Simply put, any activity you conduct at your company would be considered for "commercial use", since the ultimate goal of that activity is to increase sales. As such, you'll need to purchase the appropriate commercial licensing agreement with any design software or third-party tools you use to complete your project. Commercial use extends to offline activities, as well. For instance, let's say you use Adobe to design a billboard sign, and FontCreator to edit the font you'll use for that billboard. In this case, you're using the billboard for business purposes with the desire to earn financial gain as a result of your ad — which means it's...
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Why Overworking Is Bad For Your Health (and Your Career)

Work Life Balance
October 8, 2020/by
Why Overworking Is Bad For Your Health (and Your Career) There's no doubt that technology has simplified the way we carry out our day-to-day routines. Computers help us do things faster, emails and text messages let us always be in touch, and the internet makes it easy to find the answer to any question with just a quick Google search. While being constantly plugged in can make us feel safe, connected, and in-the-know -- both at work and at home -- it also means we never really clock out. It's one thing to pull a long day every once in a while to finish a project or deal with a crisis, but it's another to routinely stay late at the office or work into the night. That's chronic overwork -- and it can have extremely negative impacts on your health, happiness, and overall quality of life. But working overtime has become the norm for most people. And, now that multiple offices have embraced remote work, the lines between the end of the work day and the start of personal time can get even blurrier. It's one of those things everyone knows is bad for us, but no one really listens. Trouble is, failure to prioritize a healthy balance isn't just bad for the employees -- it's actually bad for employers, too. There are numerous research studies out there showing how overwork -- and its resulting stress -- can lead to many health problems. But, it also impacts your brand's bigger business too. Read on to learn exactly why it's...
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What Is a Marketing Manager?

Career Development
October 7, 2020/by
What Is a Marketing Manager? As marketers, we all want to climb the career ladder as quickly as possible. But if you're going to become a marketing manager one day, you first need to learn what the role demands. Moving up in ranks means becoming more involved in the marketing process, and eventually becoming the principal implementor. As a marketing manager, you’d be in charge of a team. Employees will look up to you as you once looked up to your manager. However, accepting this position comes with increased responsibility. It can feel rewarding to watch your strategies come to life, but it’s important to understand what the role entails. Below, we'll go over what a marketing manager is, what a marketing manager does, the management process, and the skills and education you'll need to become one. What does a marketing manager do? Marketing managers have a variety of responsibilities. While there are industry-specific standards, there are common tasks that all marketing managers will do: Conduct market research to understand the public interest and determine the marketability of products and services. Design creative and unique marketing strategies across multiple channels like social media, tv, billboards, and newspaper articles. Create marketing plans detailing outcomes and goals. Create comprehensive budgets and cost estimates. Negotiate with potential clients and partners to prepare sales and advertisement contracts. Handle public relations and troubleshoot internal and external issues as they arise. Marketing managers are also responsible for training their...
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